signs!

requesting vant0037 to thread.

Obviously you want a way to get the band to play your favorite song. Alternately it sucks to get stuck behind someone that holds it up the entire show and you can't see anything.

I remember a PJ show in Milwaukee in 2006 where someone in the front held up a giant sign with "Big Wave" written on it... I was further back in the seats and I could STILL read it... The person held it up the entire show...it was a little annoying to me and I was nowhere near the sign...Can't imagine what it was like for the people it blocked.

The band didn't play "Big Wave" that night, either.

I'd guess setlists are gospel by the time they hit the stage.

If you're on the rail and you can drape the sign over the rail, I'm cool with that... Just don't hold it up, ruining someone else's experience because you wanna hear that one song... It's disrespectful...

There are about 3 levels on which signs at shows pisses me off.

1. Put your sign, your phone, your drink etc down and be present. Enjoy what they are offering you. Stop looking for something other than what's in front of you.

2. Signs/requests are becoming a way for people to claim some faux-connection with the band. I've said it before and I'll say it again: most of us here need new heroes. The band playing whatever obscure B-side you think they should be playing (instead of the song that Ed - the professional - thinks should be played) is not only NOT the connection you think it is when the band does play it, but it's also disrespectful to the fans around you and the band. It's basically saying to the people around you "I don't give a shit about what kind of view you're having, I want my song played." It's basically saying to the band, "yeah yeah yeah, whatever you're playing isn't good enough. Play this instead." Listen closely when Ed says "we don't take orders." He's talking about you.

3. What are we, 12 years old? We need our favorite rock band to throw us a bone to feel like we're special? Sure, there are organic moments (Wrigley and "Come Back" for the guy who lost his wife) that are special. But what makes them special is not that they are routinely asked and granted from the distance of fan and performer. Those moments are special because they are rare, unexpected, and weighty. Your request for "Parting Ways" because its the last song of Binaural isn't the same thing.

All in all, I guess I just don't understand this need to be "connected" to the band, other than as a fan. You like their music, great. Beyond that, what are you looking for? And if you're hoping that a rock band can fill the void, all I can say is (and I mean this as respectfully as possible), you've got bigger issues than what a band can fix.

locked said:

Anyone who has spent anytime on this forum knows there are better approaches to song requests at shows.
And I think the OP is grouping many if us "freaks / fuckers" ( Ed's term not mine) in with some inconsiderate people.
Some of the best "moments" in a PJ show have come from requests ..

Yeah but just the idea of a request is pretty weird in itself. What they're doing on-stage isn't good enough? It's hard for me to understand how that's anything but saying "what you're doing right now isn't good enough. I'd prefer if you did something else."

I wonder if any of the persons disparaging of signs in this thread participated in the 'Breath' sign campaign???
Signs are not a sign that the band is not giving us what we need. They are just a show of appreciation for a particular song that means something to that person or group. That being said folks should show some sign etiquette and only hold them up in between songs and always be careful of your neighbours.

vant0037 said:

northerndragon said:

I wonder if any of the persons disparaging of signs in this thread participated in the 'Breath' sign campaign???
Signs are not a sign that the band is not giving us what we need. They are just a show of appreciation for a particular song that means something to that person or group. That being said folks should show some sign etiquette and only hold them up in between songs and always be careful of your neighbours.

See but that's my point. If PJ means that much to you, why isn't being at the show enough?

Yeah, I agree with this nugget more than anything.

I wonder if it's part of this newish I-me-mine mentality at the cost of consideration toward others. Not all, but certainly much of it.

(I don't think I've ever seen someone holding/carrying/whatever'ing a sign at a Tool show)

For a lot of people it seems the music is not enough. They have to be front row at every show, and if they are fortunate enough to add a show after already seeing 8 shows they have to have front row to that show too. Wouldn't want to give others a chance at a scarce GA ticket and being up front.